US qualify for 2002 World Cup

Updated: 25 February 2007 07:37 IST

USA has qualified for their fourth consecutive football World Cup appearance.

Written by NDTVSports

Read Time: 2 mins

Foxboro, Massachusetts::

Football the way the rest of the world plays it is not even one of the ten most popular sports in the USA. But perhaps that might change now. Because the US has made it to their fourth consecutive World Cup. In contrast football crazy Brazil is not through yet.
Playing against Jamaica at Foxboro, the US team opened the scoring in only the fourth minute with a header by Joe Max Moore. But James Lawrence equalized for Jamaica ten minutes later from a long throw which left US defenders standing motionless.
The game appeared to be meandering towards a draw. But then the United States pressed forward and in the 81st minute they forged ahead when Joe Max Moore converted off a spot kick to give the Americans a 2-1 win and a place in next year's finals.
Costa Rica and America have already qualified from CONCACAF. Now only the third and final spot has to be decided. Honduras and Mexico face each other next month in what will be a do or die for both sides. The winner will qualify. At present both teams are tied at 14 points each.
Brazil's latest World Cup qualifier game against Chile remained scoreless well into the second half. In the 52nd minute, however, Brazilian goalkeeper Marcos sent a long kick up field and found Edilson who shot low past Toro to make it 1-0.
The goal gave Brazil a lift, and in the 63rd minute Rivaldo struck a superb left-foot volley into the corner to make it 2-0, giving Brazil a firm grip on the last automatic place in the South American table.
Argentina is the only team to have qualified from South America. Only the top four teams automatically qualify for the world cup and the fifth team faces a play off with Australia who is the winner of the Oceania group.